What the Surakarta mayor and his deputy have done, using the Kiat Esemka SUV as their official car, shows an appreciation bestowed upon the innovative students of the vocational school.

Moreover, the mayor intends to mass-produce the vehicle by inviting investors to fund the project.

That sort of quick response should be imitated by other authorities who, in contrast, have questioned whether the car will meet safety standards. I just hope the ruler is fully committed to nurturing the vehicle project, so that it becomes the pride of nation.

Ronald Sofyan
Jakarta

I fully agree with Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and F.X. Hadi Rudyatmo; who are simply admirable in not only promoting the semi-production of the Kiat Esemka but also the personal utilization of the prototype vehicle as their official car in spite of the absence of road-worthy certification; as cautioned by their superior.

This reminded me of the days in the year 1961 when the late Commodore Nurtanio Pringgoadisuryo flight-tested his locally made Volkswagen-engine-powered low wing single seater fabric covered trainer aircraft named “Kunang”.

The national conscious aforementioned spirits have actually built the engineering drive to produce our vital need of public transport in the air as well as on land in our archipelago.

At this stage of the Kiat Esemka, I firmly believe that any known foreign-brand car manufacturer could smartly invest by facilitating needed technical knowledge and most probably capital for the production of the SMKars.

With hundreds of thousands of nationalistic eager-buyers to show off during the 2014 presidential election campaign; this purchasing atmosphere would be conducive to related strong investors to establish the SMKars in Surakarta/Solo with its strong relevant manpower supply.

In the mean time, I hope, there will be more and more of “Jokowi” and Rudyatmo to boost our economic development.

Moeljono Adikoesoemo
Jakarta

I do believe the officials can do this, but it will be hard due to capitalism.

Muhamad Ilyas

We have a liberalist government that backs down to the pressures of industrialist lobbies and interest groups, which do not welcome an independent automotive industry in Indonesia.

Agustinus Mario Vau

It is too early to dream about whether we have national car industries. I remember the Perkasa story.

But I think we have to start from now. Korea has Kia and Hyundai. Malaysia has Proton. It won’t be easy.

Rekiyono

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